Folding mechanism



June 1 1926.

W. EVENSEN FOLDING MECHANISM Filed March 16. 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 June1 1926. 1,587,070

w. EVENSEN FOLDING MECHANI SM Filed March 16. 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 2uuuummw 9 0 2 A TTORNE V June 1 1926.:

1,587,070 W. EVENSEN FOLDING MECHANISM Filed March 16. 1923 3Sheets-Sheet 5 O INVENTOR I B i I -r I /05 W Patented June 1, 192$.

barren s'r'r rifles- VILLIAM EVENSEN, OF CHICAGO, ILLENOIS, ASSIGNOB TOGOSS PRINTING PRESS COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

FOLDING MECHANISM.

Application filed March 16, 1923. Serial No. 625,579.

The invention relates to a novel and useful rotary folding mechanism,and more especially in certain of its aspects to such a mechanism forrapidly, easily and correctly folding newspapers and the like which varygreatly in the number of pages.

Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in parthereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned bypractice with the invention, the same being realized and attained bymeans of the instinmentalities and combinations pointed out in theappended claims.

The invention consists in the novel parts,

constructions, arrangements, combinations and improvements herein shownand described.

The accompanying drawings, referred to 'ierein and constituting aparthereof, illusrate one embodiment of the invention, and ogether with thedescription, serve to exilain the principles of the invention.

Of the drawings 2-- 1 is a fragmentary view, partly in elevation. andpartly in section of a folding mechanism constructed in accordance withthe invention, and is taken substantially on the line 1-1 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in vertical sectiontaken on the line 2 .u of Fig. 1;

big. 3 is a horizontal view, partly in plan line 3 -3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a detached detail partly in elevation and partly in .ectiontaken on the line l-l of Fig. 6;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, but showing a loc enut on theadjustment screw;

F 6 is a section, on an enlarged scale, taken substantially on the line6-6 of Fl 2; V

Fig. i? a fragmentary vertical. section taken substantially on the line'77 of Fig. 13 but showing the tucking blade cooperating with thefolding roller in the folding operation; and

Fig. 8 is a detached perspective view of one of the folding rollerpositioning wedges.

The present preferred and herewith illustrated exemplary embodiment ofthe invention comprises certain constructions which are well lznown andcertain features in the nature of improvements thereon.

eifrotary folding member carries a rotary folding or tucking blade, andalso receives upon itself a stack or bundle of sheets, such as those ofa newspaper. Ad acent to and cooperating with the foregoing is a pair offolding'rollers, and the tucking blade is operated by suitablemechanism, preferably a slotted rotary cam, to tuck the central or othermedian part of the stack or group of sheets between the folding rollers,whereby a transverse fold is made therein and tl ey are fed off betweenthe folding rollers. All the foregoing structure is old and well known.

In the present invention, the two cooperating folding rollers and theirmountings and drives are constructed so that one of the rollers ismovable toward and away from the other roller to vary the distancetherebctween for newspapers or other like products of different numbersof sheets or pages. To enable the folding or tucking blade in maltingthe fold to strike always centrally of the distance between the foldingrollers, means are provided for varying the position of the foldingblade relatively to its mountin which is rotatably carried upon therotary folding member already described. More particularly, the tuckingblade is fixed in a carrier, which is journaled on the rotary foldingcylinder and is actuated by the-rotary cam to tuck the sheets betweenthe folding rollers. .By the present invention, the tucking blade isvariably positionable on its carrier, preferably angularly, so that theblade may strike centrally between the fold ing rollers notwithstandingthat one roller is moved to and fro to accommodate newspapers ofdifferent thicknesses.

Other features of the invention will be primarily set forth inconnection with the following detailed description, and it will beunderstood that the foregoing general description and the followingdetailed desc 'ip tion are both explanatory and exen'iplary, but are notrestrictive of the invention.

Referring now in detail to the embodiment of the invention illustratedby way of example in the accompanying drawings, the member which carriesthe sheet or usually the group or bundle of sheets preparatory tofolding, and from which they are folded off, comprises a cylinder 1, theshaft 2 of which is journaled in bearings 3 at either end thercof,respectively, upon the side frames l of the machine, Suitable means areprovided tor holding the group or stack of sheets upon the cylinder.which means may be of any suitable kind or form but are shown hereinconventionally as grippers 5 adapted to engage with the lead end of thegroup or bundle of sheets. There are two such sets of grippers shown asemicircumference apart, the cylinder being also provided with twofolding blades. A cutting cylinder 6 is shown conventionally journaledin bearings 7 on the machine frame, but it forms no part of the pro. itinvention, but may be used to cut the sheets from. the associated websat this point, if desired.

Rotatably mounted upon the cylinder 1 are two folding. or tucking blades10 and 11, one being shown at rest in Jig. 2, and

the other performing the folding operation, in Fig. 7 of the drawing. Asembodied, the folding blades are double-edged. and make ahalf-revolution relatively to the rotating folding cylinder tor eachfold. A shaft 12 is journaled in bearings 13 near either end thereof,these bearings being. mounted in the folding cylinder 1. Fixed to theshaft 12 is a blade-carrying body 14, extending in both directionsdiametrically frointhe shaft, and each of these parts is adapted tocarry a folding blade. A folding" blade 15 is mounted on one side and afolding blade 16 mounted on the other side thereof. These blades may, ifdesired, be interchangeable with otherswhich are wider or narrower, orthe blades may be made radially adjustable relatively to the body 14.

in the embodied form and in accordance with one feature of theinvention, and havlog in View more especially the application of theintention to a mechanism wherein one of the folding rollers yariably andregulably positionable relatively to a coopcrating folding;rollcrjournaled in fixed position, so as to vary the distance betweenthe folding rollers for groups or bundles consisting of differentnumbers of sheets. 31, common example of this is. where a news" papermay vary from day to day from say four to sixty-four pages. Inconnection with such folding rollers, means are provided for. veryslightly and very accurately po sit-ioning the tucking blade relativelyto its carrier. lhis change of position is prefer ably relativelyangularly, that is, with reterence to its shaft and, the actuating meanscarried thereby, which cooperate with the actuating cam later to bedescribed.

As embodied, the shaft 12 has fixed to or integral with one end thereofa circular disk 20, which disk fits closely but rotatably into acircular recess let into the inner face of an oblong head 21. lileansareprovided for holding the disk 20 and the head 21 in the describedrelation while permitting slight angular adjustment therebetween. Asenibedisd;,. a p urality Qt? ap b lts; 2i, pass through apertures in thedisk 20. which apertures are somewhat larger than the bolts, the heads25 of the bolts resting or pressingagainstthe exterior face of the disk20; The inner ends of the bolts 24 are reduced in diameter and arescrew-threaded into. tapped screw-threads in the head 21. Thus they havea shouldered seat on the inner face of the annular recess in the head 21and thus will hold without binding the disk 20.

Further, as embodied, the head 21 is cut away at one side, as is shownat 27, and the disk 20 has an outwardly extending lug or arm 28,projecting into the opening 27 in the head 21. Screw-threaded into thislug 28 is a screw bolt 29. The screw bolt projects from QlwlCl side ofthe lug, and has its head bearing against one side face 30 of theopening 27 and its point bearing against the opposite side face 31 013said; opening. Thus by turning the finely threaded screw 29, the tuckingblades 15 and 16 may be very nicely angularl-y adjusted relatively tothe head 21..

The head 21 is provided with devices 00- operating with suit-ableactuating means, preferably a rotary cam of the kind shown in UnitedStates Patent No. 871,038 dated \ov. 12, 1907, to H. P. Husby. For thispurpose, the head: 21 is provided at either end thereof with two pins orrollers 33' and 31, fixed thereto by suitable means, such as bolt-s and36, respectively, which are shouldered on the outer face of the head. 21and have reduced portions 10 and 3'? passing therethrough, and have nuts38 and 39, respectively. screw-threadcdj on the inner cndsthereof Theembodied form of cooperating means comprises a cam disk 54:, fixed to a.gear wheel which. is rotatably mounted on a stubshaft 56. Shaft 56 iscarried in a hub 64), and is held in positionv by a nut 66,screw-threaded on the, exterior end of the shaft. Gain disk isprovided'with a plurality of actuating slots, shown as three in number,57, 5S, and 59, these slots being preferably non-radially disposed, asshown in Fig. The cam dish is fixed to the gear in any. suitable manner,as by tap bolts (30. The gear meshes with a gear wheel 61, fixed on theshaft of the folding cylinder 1. i

A; guide ring, 62 inoperative position with respect t the pins and onthe head 21 and wit-h respect to the cam 54-. As the cylinder rotates,the pins 3 and 34:. are both in contact withithe ring 62 and the tuckingblade is thereby held flat and idle. il hen the cam disk 54; is reached,the leading pin 33 or 3 1 enters one of the cam slots, and thereby theshaft 12 is given a half rotation, one of the bladese-lfecting thef-Qldjiilg operation, with; the: folding rollers.

At the end of this half revolution, the actuating pins 33 and 34 againride out on ring 62-, holding the tucking blade in inoperative relationduring the remainder of the rotation of the folding cylinder 1. Wheretwo tucking blade mechanisms are provided, a semicircumference apart,there are two folding operations for each rotation of the cylinder 1.

Referring now to the embodied form of the folding rollers, and theirmounting and actuating connections, a folding roller has its shaft 71journaled in fixed bearings and upon the machine frame. The bearing 78has therewithin a sleeve 74, e; circling the shaft 71. A. gear pinion 75is fixed on shaft 71, and is driven in any suitable manner. Fixed alsoon shaft 71 is a gear wheel 76, which meshes with a gear wheel 77, fixedon the shaft 78 of the cooperating folding rollers 79, although so faras Concerns most features of the invention the folding roller 79 can bedriven in any desired manner and without direct gear connection to thefolding roller 70.

in the embodied form of mounting for the movable or positionable roller79, it

vis also preferably provided with resilient wardly therefrom and locatedwithin. the

cylinders 88, the rear ends thereof projecting from the rear heads ofthe respective cylinders. Helical springs 91 encircle the respectiverods. within their cylinders 88 and are in compression between the innerends of the wrists 87 and the rear heads of the cylinders 88. Thecylinders 88 are mounted on the machine frame by suitable means, such asbolts 93..

Furth r, as embodied, positioning wedges are beveled horizontally andoutwardly, and have recesses 101 therein andthese recesses encircle theinner ends of the respective rods 90. Nuts 102 are screw-tln'eaded ontothe ends of rods 90 outside of the positioning wedges 100 so that theparts will move together. regulate the action of the respective springs91. Each wedge 100 has a hub 10% within which is alongitudii'iallyextending, screwthreaded aperture 105. A screw-rod 106,threaded right and left, is screwed into the apertures 105, and isprovided with a bearing or support 107 on the machine frame. The.structure, however, is carried on the rods 90 by means of the slots 101.

The nuts 102 serve also to A hand-wheel 108 is fixed on the rod 106 forrotating same. Thus the roller 79 may be very nicely positioned withrespect to roller 70 to provide the desired folding opening therebetweenfor the particular number or thickness of sheets being folded, and bythe screw 29, the blade may be likewise timed that the tucking bladewill. always strike exactly midway in the space between the foldingrollers. Thus through the hand-wheel 108 the space between the foldingrollers 70 and 79 may be varied, as desired, to suit the number ofsheets to be folded, and by means of the screw bolt 29, the foldingblade maybe made to strike accurately absolutely cent-rally of the spacebetween the folding rollers.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specificmechanisms shown and described, but departures maybe made therefromwithin the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from theprinciples of the invention and without sacrificing its chiefadvantages.

What I claim is 1. A folding mechanism including in combination arotaryfolding member, a pair of rotary tucking blades carried thereby, a pairof cooperating folding rollers, means for actuating the tucking blades,and means for variably and independently positively positioning thetucking blades relative to said rotary folding member to change theirrelation to the folding rollers.

2. A folding mechanism including in combinat-ion a rotary foldingmember, a pair of rotary tucking blades carried thereby, a pair ofcooperating folding rollers, means for actuating the tucking blades, andmeans for variably, angularly, and independently positively positioningthe tucking blades relative to said rotary folding member to changetheir relation to said folding rollers.

23. A folding mechanism including in combination arotary folding member,a pair of rotary tucking blades carried thereby, apair of cooperatingfolding rollers, rotary means for actuating the tucking blades, andmeans for variably and independently positively positioning the tuckingblades relative to said rotary folding member to change their relationto the folding rollers.

4-. A folding mechanism including in combination a rotary foldingmember, a plurality of rotary tucking blades carried there by, a pair ofrelatively adjustable cooperating folding rollers, rotary means foractuating the tucking blades, and means for variably, angularly, andindependently posi tively shifting the tucking blades relative to saidrotary folding member to change their relation to the folding rollers. vi

5. i-rfolding mechanism including in combination a rotary foldingmember, a rotary,

lit)

tucking blade carried. thereby, a pair of cooperating folding rollers,means for regulably varying the distance between the fold ing rollersfor papers of different thicknesses, means for actuating the tuckingblade, and means for variably and positively shifting the tucking bladerelatively to said rotary folding member to change its relation to thefolding rollers.

6. A folding mechanism including in combination a rotary folding member,a rotary tucking blade carried thereby, a pair of cooperating foldingrollers, means for regulably varying the distance between the foldingrollers for papers of different thicknesses, means for actuating thetucking blade, and means for variably angularly and positively shiftingthe tucking blade relatively to said rotary folding member to change itsrelation to the folding rollers.

7. A folding mechanism including in combination a rotary folding member,a rotary tucking blade carried thereby, a pair of cooperating foldingrollers, one roller being in fixed position and the other being movableto vary the distance between them for papers of'different thicknesses,means for actuating the tucking blade, and means for variably andpositively shifting the tucking blade relatively to said rotary foldingmember to change its relation to the folding rollers.

S. A folding mechanism including in combination a rotary folding member,a rotary tucking blade carried thereby, a pair of cooperating foldingrollers, one roller being in fixed position and the other being movableto vary the distance between them for paper of different thicknesses,means for actuating the tucking blade, and means for variably angularlyand positively shifting the tucking blade relatively to said rotaryfolding member to change its relation to the folding rollers.

9.1 A folding mechanism including in combination a rotary foldingmember, a rotary tucking blade carried thereby, a pair of cooperatingfolding rollers, means including a rotary slotted cam for actuating thetucking blade,'and means for variably and positively shifting thetucking blade relatively to said rotary folding-member to change itsrelation to the folding rollers.

; A folding mechanism including in combination arotary folding member, a

pair of rotary tucking blades carried there by, a pair of cooperatingfolding rollers, means including a rotary slotted cam for actuating thetucking blades, and means for variably, angularly, and independentlypositively moving the tucking blades relative to said rotary foldingmember to change their relation to the folding rollers.

1-1. A folding mechanism including in col'nbination arotary foldingmember, ro-

tary tucking blade carried thereby, a pair of cooperating foldingrollers, rotary means including a rotary slotted cam for actuating thetucking blade, and means for variably angularly and positively movingthe tucking b ade relatively to said. rotary folding memher to changeits relation to the folding rollers.

12. A folding mechanism including in combination arotary folding member,a pair of rotary tucking blades carried thereby, a pair of cooperatingfolding rollers, rotary means including a rotary slotted cam foractuating the tucking blades, and means for variably and independentlypositively moving the tucking blades relative to said rotary foldingmember to change their relation to the folding rollers.

13. A folding mechanism including in combination a rotary foldingmember, a rotary tucking blade carried thereby, a pair of cooperatingfolding rollers, means for regulably varying the distance between thefolding rollersfor papers of different thicknesses, means including arotary slotted cam for actuating the tucking blade, and means forvariably and positively moving the tucking blade relatively to saidrotary folding member to change its relation to the folding rollers.

14. A folding mechanismincluding in combination a rotary folding member,a 1'0- tary tucking blade carried thereby, a pair of cooperating foldingrollers, means for regulably varying the distance between the foldingrollers for papers of different thicknesses, meansincluding a rotaryslotted cam for actuating the tucking blade, and means for variablyangularly and postively moving the tucking blade relatively to saidrotary folding member to change its relation to the folding rollers.

15. A folding mechanism including in con'ibination a rotary foldingmember, a rotary tucking blade carried thereby, a pair of cooperatingfolding rollers, one roller being. in fixed position and the other beingmovable to vary the distance between them for papers of differentthicknesses, means including a rotary slotted cam for actuating thetucking blade, and means for variably and positively moving the tuckingblade relatively to said rotary folding member to change its relation tothe folding rollers.

16. A folding mechanism including in combination a rotary foldingmember, a rotary tucking blade carried thereby, a pair of cooperatingfolding rollers, one roller be ing in fixed position and the other beingmovable to vary the distance between them for papers of differentthicknesses, means including a' rotary slotted cam for actuating thetucking blade.- and means for variably angularly andpositively movingthe tucklng blade relatively to said rotary folding 1ne1nof differentthicknesses, means for actuating the tucking blade, and means forsingularly and positively moving the tucking blade relatively to itscarrier so that the blade may str ze centrally between the foldingrollers.

18. A folding mechanism including in coi'i'ibination a rotary foldingmember, a tucking blade carrier rota-tably journaled thereon, tuckingblade mounted on the car .ier, a pair of cooperating folding rollers,one at least thereof being movable to vary the distance therebetween forfolding papers of different thicknesses, means for actuating the tuckingblade, and means for positively moving the tucking blade relatively toits carrier so that the blade may strike centrally between the foldingrollers.

19. A folding mechanism including in combination a rotary foldingmember, a tucking blade carrier rotatably journaled thereon, a tuckingblade mounted on the carrier, a pair of cooperating folding rollers, oneat least thereof being movable to vary the distance therebetween forfolding papers of different thicknesses, means including a rotaryslotted cam for actuating the tucking blade, and means for angularlypositively moving the tucking blade relatively to its carrier so thatthe blade may strike centrally between the folding rollers.

20.11 folding mechanism including in combination a rotary foldingmember, a tucking blade carrier rotatably journaled thereon, a tuckingblade mounted on the carrier, a pair of cooperating folding rollers, oneat least thereof being movable to vary the distance therebetvveen forfolding papers of different thicknesses, means including a rotary camhaving a nonradial actuating slot therein for actuating the tuckingblade, and means for angularly positively moving the tucking bladerelatively to its carrier so that the blade may strike centrally betweenthe folding rollers.

21. A folding mechanism including in combination a rotary foldingmember, a tucking blade carrier rotatably journaled thereon, a tuckingblade mounted on the carrier, a pair of cooperating folding rollers,

one at least thereof being movable to vary the distance thcrebetween forfolding papers of different thicknesses, means including a rotary camhai 'ing a plurality of actuating slots therein, for actuating thetucking blade, and means for angularly positively moving the tuckingblade relatively to its carrier so that the blade may strike centrallybe tween the folding rollers.

22. A folding mechanism including in combination a rotary foldingmember, a tucking blade carrier rotatably journaled thereon, a tuckingblade mounted on the carrier, a pair of cooperating folding rollers, oneat least thereof being movable to vary the distance therebetiveen forfolding papers of different thicknesses, means including a rotary camhaving a plurality of non-radial actuating slots therein, for actuatingthe tucking blade, and means for angularly positively moving the tuckingblade relatively to its carrier so that the blade may strike centrallybetween the folding rollers.

25. A folding mechanism comprising folding rollers, a cylindercooperating therewith, a shaft and a tucking blade carried by thecylinder, a cam for actuating the tucking blade, and means for variablyand positively moving the shaft and blade.

In testimonywhereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

lVlLLIAh I EVENSEN.

